The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has released a comprehensive update on the status of its military operations as of December 13, 2023. The report covers various fronts and details the activities of the Russian Armed Forces in what is described as a “special military operation.”
Kupyansky Direction
Russian forces, specifically the “West” group of troops, engaged in combat with units from the 14th, 43rd, 60th, and 115th mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kharkiv region. Key locations of conflict included the areas around Sink, Ivanovka, Yagodnoye, and Lake Liman. The report states that Russian troops used artillery and heavy flamethrower systems, resulting in the loss of 55 Ukrainian troops, a tank, an M113 armored personnel carrier from the U.S., and two armored combat vehicles.
Krasnolimsky Direction
In this region, the “Center” troop group repulsed an attack by the 63rd mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the village of Chervonaya Dibrov in the Lugansk People’s Republic. Artillery fire reportedly led to significant enemy casualties, including 100 soldiers killed or wounded, a tank, and two vehicles.
Donetsk Direction
The “Southern” troop group with artillery support countered four assaults by the 24th mechanized and 5th assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kleshcheevka and Shuma areas of the Donetsk People’s Republic. Losses on the Ukrainian side in this sector were reported as 250 troops, two tanks, a U.S.-manufactured combat infantry vehicle, three armored combat vehicles, two “Mst” howitzers, a self-propelled artillery installation “Acamentia,” and a D-20 gun and D-30 howitzer.
South-Donetsk Direction
The Vostok group, in coordination with artillery and heavy flamethrower systems (TOS-1), targeted the 79th assault, 58th motorized infantry, and 128th brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk People’s Republic, causing losses of 130 troops, two pickup trucks, two “Acasia” self-propelled artillery units, and a “Gvozdik” self-propelled artillery installation.
Zaporozhye Direction
Russian troops successfully repelled an attack by the 117th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Novoprokopov in the Zaporozhye region. The report also mentions the destruction of manpower and equipment belonging to the 128th mountain assault, 33rd, and 65th mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian forces. The Ukrainian losses in this region were said to be 50 soldiers and three vehicles.
Kherson Direction
Russian military actions, including artillery fire and air strikes, led to the reported losses of 30 Ukrainian soldiers. Additionally, three “Gvozdik” self-propelled artillery units and a UAV control point were destroyed.
The Ministry’s report also highlighted the destruction of a Ukrainian radar station, ammunition depots, a fuel depot, and a UAV assembly and repair workshop. Russian air defense systems reportedly intercepted two HIMARS rockets, and six Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed in the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics.
Since the start of the military operation, the Russian Ministry of Defense claims the destruction of a significant number of Ukrainian military assets, including aircraft, helicopters, drones, tanks, artillery, and other vehicles.
